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The Alarm Administration Unit is committed to improving public safety through advocating for the reduction of false alarms by administering the Alarm Ordinance, providing educational resources and community outreach initiatives and facilitating the establishment of partnerships between law enforcement, the alarm industry and the citizens of Austin.

The Alarm Administration Unit strives to eliminate false alarms by supporting false alarm prevention initiatives and educating the public on the negative impact false alarms have on public safety resources.

City of Austin Alarm Permit Fees

Type of Permit

Amount

Term

Residential (New or Renewal)

$30

12 Months

Business (New or Renewal)

$50

12 Months

City of Austin False Alarm Fees

Type of Call

Number allowed at no charge in consecutive 12 month periods

$50 Each

$75 Each

$100 Each

Burglary

3

4-5

6-7

8 or more

Robbery Panic

2

-

-

3 or more

Late Payment Fee $5 Per Month

City of Austin Penalties for Operating an Alarm System without a Permit

$200 for each response to a non-permitted location

Operator is subject to Class C misdemeanor charges

How to apply for an alarm permit

Appealing a False Alarm Charge

If you have received a charge for a false alarm, you may qualify for an appeal hearing. Guidelines for requesting an appeal hearing are provided here. After reviewing the guidelines, if you feel you qualify for a hearing, complete and send us the Appeal Request Form or send an email containing the information required on the form to apdalarm@austintexas.gov.

Cancellation of City of Austin Alarm Permit

An alarm permit can be cancelled when the system no longer meets the criteria for a permitted alarm system per the ordinance or the permit holder moves from the address. All outstanding charges must be paid before a permit is cancelled. Written notification is required for cancellation. Cancellation forms can be mailed to the address referenced above or faxed to: (512) 974-6697.